Santa Ana winds arrive early; red flag warning begins Saturday Play

Santa Ana winds blew in earlier and stronger than expected Friday morning. Peak gusts of 48 miles an hour have already been recorded in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Winds gusted up to 31 mph at Trancas, 30 mph at Pepperdine, and 39 mph at Ramirez Canyon just above Paradise Cove, between 7 and 7:30 a.m. Friday.

The winds will back off Friday and Friday night, but will be even stronger Saturday morning, peaking around 5 a.m.

Southern California Edison has served notice that it may institute intentional protective blackouts — but only in Malibu Canyon, the mountains near Malibu Canyon, and part of Calabasas. Not down on the beach.

The mountain areas may see their power intentionally turned off sometime after midnight Friday, with the blackout warnings expiring Saturday at 3 p.m.

Last time this happened, the warnings materialized in blackouts all the way down to the beaches of Malibu.

Do not be surprised if your power goes out at some point Friday. It is also possible that winds may trigger an accidental blackout.

The National Weather Service cautions that wind gusts of 45 mph will be typical Friday, up to 55 at the windiest locations Saturday. The air will be warm and dry, with humidity down to about 8 percent at times.

While there is green grass sprouting in the mountains from recent rains, there are still large swaths of the Santa Monica Mountains where the grass is dead, the brush remains dormant, and the live fuel moisture is still at critical levels, the National Weather Service says.

There is a high risk for fast-moving fires where the plants are driest and the winds are strongest. The National Weather Service says this specifically includes the Santa Monica Mountains.

A red flag warning takes effect on the mountaintops at 2 a.m. Saturday.